United States Code

18 U.S.C. § 2255

Civil remedy for personal injuries

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Bills that would change it 10

  • S 1829 STOP CSAM Act of 2025 Amends 2255(a) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 3921 STOP CSAM Act of 2025 Amends 2255(a) · introduced · 119th Congress
  • HR 7949 STOP CSAM Act of 2024 Amends 2255(a) · introduced · 118th Congress
  • S 1199 STOP CSAM Act of 2023 Amends · introduced · 118th Congress
  • HR 8061 Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act of 2022 Amends · introduced · 117th Congress
  • S 3103 Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act of 2022 Amends · enacted · 117th Congress
  • S 534 Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 Amends · enacted · 115th Congress
  • HR 3067 Online Safety Modernization Act of 2017 Amends 2255(a) · introduced · 115th Congress
  • HR 1973 Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act of 2017 Amends · introduced · 115th Congress
  • HR 1188 Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act of 2017 Amends 2255(b) · introduced · 115th Congress

The law today

From the official United States Code, current through Public Law 119-121.

(a) In General.— Any person who, while a minor, was a victim of a violation of section 1589, 1590, 1591, 2241(c), 2242, 2243, 2251, 2251A, 2252, 2252A, 2260, 2421, 2422, or 2423 of this title and who suffers personal injury as a result of such violation, regardless of whether the injury occurred while such person was a minor, may sue in any appropriate United States District Court and shall recover the actual damages such person sustains or liquidated damages in the amount of $150,000, and the cost of the action, including reasonable attorney’s fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred. The court may also award punitive damages and such other preliminary and equitable relief as the court determines to be appropriate. (b) Statute of Limitations.— There shall be no time limit for the filing of a complaint commencing an action under this section. (c) Venue; Service of Process.— (1) Venue.— Any action brought under subsection (a) may be brought in the district court of the United States that meets applicable requirements relating to venue under section 1391 of title 28. (2) Service of process.— In an action brought under subsection (a), process may be served in any district in which the defendant— (A) is an inhabitant; or (B) may be found.
Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗